About one hundred years ago many educated people learned and spoke
French when they met people from other countries. Today most people
speak English when they meet foreigners. It has become the new
international language. There are more people who speak English as a
second language than people who speak English as a first language. Why
is this?

There are many reasons why English has become so popular. One of
them is that English has become the language of business. Another
important reason is that popular American culture (like movies, music,
and McDonald's) has quickly spread throughout the world. It has brought
its language with it.

Is it good that English has spread to all parts of the world so
quickly? I don't know. It's important to have a language that the
people of the earth have in common. Our world has become very global
and we need to communicate with one another. On the other hand, English
is a fairly complicated language to learn and it brings its culture with
it. Do we really need that?

Scientists have already tried to create an artificial language that
isn't too difficult and doesn't include any one group's culture. It is
called Esperanto. But it hasn't become popular. But maybe the
popularity of English won't last that long either. Who knows? There
are more people in the world who speak Chinese than any other language.
Maybe someday Chinese will be the new international language.

Questions

1. What was the world language 100 years ago?

2. Which group is larger- people who speak English as a first
language or people who speak English as a second language?

3. What are two reasons English has become an international language
today?